Needs From: United Way of the National Capital Area

Sometimes a small act of receiving a thoughtful note could make someone's day. Each card could take up to 20 minutes to create.

This “virtual” volunteer event provides YOU the ability to inspire and support those in our community most in need of a positive message. All creative skills are welcome! Volunteers will use their creativity to bring encouragement to our ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) individuals and families. These notecards will be added to our essential needs kits to provide a positive and personal message to the recipient.

Steps to complete notecards:

Download the template here.Follow these instructions to create notecards.Mail or drop-off notecards to our office.

For any questions, reach out to us at volunteer@uwnca.org.

At this time, we are unable to verify service learning hours for notecards of encouragement. 

United Way of the National Capital Area works to improve the health, education and economic opportunity of every person in the National Capital community.  WHEN NONE ARE IGNORED, ALL WILL THRIVE.

United Way NCA’s essential need kits are vital to supporting our communities, building resiliency, and preparing individuals for success. Our healthy snack kits are thoughtfully created to provide students with nutritious, easily-prepared snack items for children and their families.

Project Overview

Collect or purchase the following items to assemble healthy snack kits that United Way NCA will distribute to our partners, including community schools, after-school programs, and shelters. Whether you purchase the items from the store or set up a collection drive amongst your friends, colleagues, or family, every kit you contribute will impact a student and their family, providing some essential need items that can help them build resiliency. 

Kit Contents

Our healthy snack kits contain each of the following snack items (quantity). United Way NCA has created an Amazon shopping list to aid in your ordering process and are optional for you to use to order your supplies. Should you choose to use a vendor other than Amazon, please ensure the following items and quantities are in each kit. Completed kits should be placed into large, clear trash bags in sets of no more than 10.

Healthy Snack Kit Items

3 Applesauce  3 Pretzel Snack Packs 2 Granola Bars 3 Trail Mix Snack Packs 3 Fruit Snacks 2 Popcorn Snack Packs 1 16.9 oz Water Bottle 2 Cheese or Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers 1 Drawstring Bag 1 Encouragement Card

Download full instructions here. 

Ready to get started?

Let us know you're packing kits by responding to this opportunity! In the notes section, let us know about how many kits you plan to pack and when you plan to pack them. A team member will reach out to you soon after you respond to confirm this information and schedule your kit drop-off date. 

Once your kits are dropped off, let us know how many hours this project took you by tracking your hours. We estimate that procuring the supplies and packing 20 kits would take around 2 hours. 

Questions? Email volunteer@uwnca.org. 

United Way of the National Capital Area works to improve the health, education and economic opportunity of every person in the National Capital community.  WHEN NONE ARE IGNORED, ALL WILL THRIVE.

United Way NCA’s essential need kits are vital to supporting our communities, building resiliency, and preparing individuals for success. Our general hygiene kits are thoughtfully created to provide individuals with necessary personal care items that will support up to one month of regular hygiene. 

Project Overview

Collect or purchase the following items to assemble hygiene kits that United Way NCA will distribute to our partners, including shelters, community schools, and health-based organizations. Whether you purchase the items from the store or set up a collection drive amongst your friends, colleagues, or family, every kit you contribute will impact an individual and their family, providing some essential need items that can help them build resiliency. 

Kit Contents

Our hygiene kits contain one of each of the following products. United Way NCA has created an Amazon shopping list to aid in your ordering process and are optional for you to use to order your supplies. Should you choose to use a vendor other than Amazon, please ensure the following items and quantities are in each kit. Completed kits should be placed into large, clear trash bags in sets of no more than 10.

Hygiene Kit Items

Shampoo Conditioner Bar Soap Deodorant Lotion Toothbrush Toothpaste Chapstick Floss Hand Sanitizer WashclothDrawstring Bag Encouragement Card

Download full instructions here. 

Ready to get started?

Let us know you're packing kits by responding to this opportunity! In the notes section, let us know about how many kits you plan to pack and when you plan to pack them. A team member will reach out to you soon after you respond to confirm this information and schedule your kit drop-off date. 

Once your kits are dropped off, let us know how many hours this project took you by tracking your hours. We estimate that procuring the supplies and packing 24 kits would take around 2 hours. 

Questions? Email volunteer@uwnca.org. 

United Way of the National Capital Area works to improve the health, education and economic opportunity of every person in the National Capital community.  WHEN NONE ARE IGNORED, ALL WILL THRIVE.

United Way NCA’s essential need kits are vital to supporting our communities, building resiliency, and preparing individuals for success. Our cold weather kits are thoughtfully created to provide adults and children with vital gear and products necessary for staying warm in DMV winter.

Project Overview

Collect or purchase the following items to assemble financial education kits that United Way NCA will distribute to our economic opportunity partners. Whether you purchase the items from the store or set up a collection drive amongst your friends, colleagues, or family, every kit you contribute will impact an individual and their family, providing some essential need items that can help them build resiliency. 

Kit Contents

Our cold weather kits contain each of the following items. United Way NCA has created an optional Amazon shopping list to aid in your ordering process. Should you choose to use a vendor other than Amazon, please ensure the following items and quantities are in each kit. Completed kits should be placed into large, clear trash bags in sets of 5.

Cold Weather Kit Items

1 Hat 1 Scarf 2 Pairs of Socks 1 Chapstick 2 one-oz Lotion (or 1 two-oz bottle) 1 Drawstring Bag 1 Encouragement Card

Download full instructions here. 

Ready to get started?

Let us know you're packing kits by responding to this opportunity! In the notes section, let us know about how many kits you plan to pack and when you plan to pack them. A team member will reach out to you soon after you respond to confirm this information and schedule your kit drop-off date. 

Once your kits are dropped off, let us know how many hours this project took you by tracking your hours. We estimate that procuring the supplies and packing 20 kits would take one individual around 2 hours. 

Questions? Email volunteer@uwnca.org. 

United Way of the National Capital Area works to improve the health, education and economic opportunity of every person in the National Capital community.  WHEN NONE ARE IGNORED, ALL WILL THRIVE.

United Way NCA’s essential need kits are vital to supporting our communities, building resiliency, and preparing individuals for success. Our menstrual equity kits are thoughtfully created to provide enough, quality supplies to support an individual through an average one-month menstrual cycle. 

Project Overview

Collect or purchase the following items to assemble menstrual equity kits that United Way NCA will distribute to our partners, including shelters, community schools, and health-based organizations. Whether you purchase the items from the store or set up a collection drive amongst your friends, colleagues, or family, every kit you contribute will impact an individual and their family, providing some essential need items that can help them build resiliency. 

Kit Contents

Our menstrual equity kits contain each of the following products and quantities. United Way NCA has created an Amazon shopping list to aid in your ordering process and are optional for you to use to order your supplies. Should you choose to use a vendor other than Amazon, please ensure the following items and quantities are in each kit. Completed kits should be placed into large, clear trash bags in sets of no more than 10.

Menstrual Equity Kit Items

1 package Disposable Wipes 1 Hand Sanitizer 15 Pads 25 Tampons 1 Small Product Zip-up Bag 1 Drawstring Bag 1 Encouragement Card

Download full instructions here. 

Ready to get started?

Let us know you're packing kits by responding to this opportunity! In the notes section, let us know about how many kits you plan to pack and when you plan to pack them. A team member will reach out to you soon after you respond to confirm this information and schedule your kit drop-off date. 

Once your kits are dropped off, let us know how many hours this project took you by tracking your hours. We estimate that procuring the supplies and packing 24 kits would take around 2 hours. 

Questions? Email volunteer@uwnca.org.